Home Collections Fresh Oysters Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Two workers harvesting Aunt Dotty oysters on Saquish Neck tidal flats with orange trays and a house in the background
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA
Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA

Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA

$145.00

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Quantity: 50 Count | $2.90 per Oyster
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Farmer: Skip Bennett

Size: ~2.5"

Although they’re grown only a 20-minute boat ride away from the ICO’s and Row 34’s, Aunt Dottys have a vastly different flavor! Intensely salty up front with a nori, seaweed-like brine, they mellow into a rich, nutty sweetness, almost like a bitter walnut. Dotties have petite cups but are bursting with dense meats giving you a super toothsome bite.

About Aunt Dotty Oysters

Harvest location: Saquish Neck, MA

Where Exactly?

How they’re grown: Aunt Dottys spend their 3-year grow out in trays on the tidal flats at Saquish Neck. The farm has an extremely unique location, but the best part is that it can be easily accessed year-round, unlike some of its other Duxbury Bay neighbors. Due to long tides at the mouth of the bay, the trays will always be exposed from the water twice a day for 3-4 hours, so the crew can harvest all year-round. A bonus? The crew can also reach the farm via truck from Saquish beach.

Every December, the farm crew removes the oysters from the water to avoid freezing cold temps and exposure and stores them in relative comfort in burlap bags in the cellar of a little cottage that Skip owns just feet from the flats. In April, the oysters make the short commute back to the water to pick up growing right where they left off.

Why they’re unique: The land and marshes that host the farm have been in the Bennett family for generations. Legend has it that the deed once had to be translated from Old English! Skip plans to diversify the farm in the future, with clams and scallops, but for now, the Aunt Dottys are the inaugural offering and a sign of great things to come!

Story: So who is the person behind the name? Skip’s aunt, Dotty, was the original resident of the Bennett family cottage out at Saquish. In the 1940s, Dotty and her husband lived entirely off the grid with no running water or electricity...and their 6 children. Dotty’s husband was a lobsterman, and after he passed, Dotty kept the family business going on her own. Dotty was a hearty, tenacious, special woman and her spirit lives on through the oyster that now bears her name.

⚠ Prop 65 Warning

Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Oyster FAQ

How long do my oysters keep?

Your oysters keep in the refrigerator for 5-7 days!  You can order a day or two early to make sure you have them in time for your gathering.  They are totally fine hangin’ out in the cool air.  

How do I store these bad boys?

When you receive your package, pull them out of the box (these guys need a little fresh air!). Grab a mixing bowl and throw the mesh bag in the bowl so that the oysters don’t leak all over your refrigerator. Grab a damp cloth and throw the cloth over the bowl.  You are good to go for the next 5-7 days. Doesn’t hurt to dampen the cloth each day to keep them moist and chilled.

Should I keep them on ice?

Only put the oysters on ice before service.  The oysters will actually die in the melted fresh water so do not store the oysters on ice.  They will not like this.

How are they shipped?

We ship using FedEx Overnight service. You will receive tracking info after the label has been printed the day before your oysters are set to arrive.  We do not require a signature – Fedex will leave your package at your doorstep.

Is your packaging recyclable?

Short answer: YES!

Our ClimaCell thermal liners are made of 90% FSC certified virgin kraft paper and corn starch, which allows you to recycle the insulated liner at home along with the cardboard box.⁠
⁠
Not only are the liners water repellant, they’re just as insulating as traditional styrofoam AND they can be recycled up to 5 times. Saving the planet has never been easier.⁠

Click here for more information on ClimaCell.

Overall rating: 4.770408 / 5 from 196 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA, are highly praised for their perfect size, delicious flavor, and ease of shucking. Customers appreciate the unique taste, which is salty with a nutty sweetness. The oysters are also noted for their timely shipping and arrival in great condition. However, some customers mentioned that the shells tend to flake.

Summary topics

  • Oyster Size (11%): Customers loved the perfect size of the oyster, which was mentioned multiple times in the reviews.
  • Family Enjoyment (5%): It was reported by customers that their family enjoyed the oysters, finding them salty, sweet, and relatively easy to shuck.
  • Oyster Flavor (20%): Many customers expressed appreciation for the great taste of the Aunt Dotty Oysters, mentioning it frequently in their reviews.
  • Order Experience (13%): Customers loved the order, with many expressing their intention to order again in the future.
  • Shipping Experience (5%): It was reported by customers that the shipping was timely and the oysters arrived in great condition.

Review topics: ["size","flavor","quality","problem","shipping","packaging","texture","order","sauce","consistency","treat","service","oysters","aunt dotty","brine","finish","family","ordering","aunt dotties","experience","salinity","meat","salt","mignonette","fan","gems","try","guys","kind","dozen"].

Review highlights

  • "My absolute favorite oyster- perfect size, great flavor and finish." — Ian F.
  • "Nice size and amazing flavor." — Dave M.
  • "Easy to shuck, delicious flavor and the perfect size!" — Patrick M.

Reviews

Small but Sweet

"Aunt Dotty oysters are delicious with subtle brine and sweet flavor. My guests loved them and while one large-pawed shucker struggled with them another shucker (with smaller hands and better technique) thought they were easy to open. The shells required quite a bit of rinsing before shucking, a small chore for this much flavor."

— Lyn F. (5/5)

Aunt Dotty’s

"They were the BEST! Ordering was easy. Delivery fantastic - right on time. Oysters well packed and cold when they arrived. 5 stars in all respects!"

— Kathleen B. (5/5)

Delicious!

"Another great experience with Island Creek; these Dotties were tasty (size, shape and flavor). Happy danced all evening with raw and cooked (Bienville & Rockefeller) oysters"

— Joseph M. (5/5)

Little jewels

"Perfect flavor and salinity, another jewel from Island Creek. A small batch with very brittle edges but, manageable"

— Alberto P. (4/5)

Aunt Dotty Oysters

"Delicious!! They arrived on time and in perfect condition - as always."

— Linda B. (5/5)

Delicious

"These oysters weee absolutely delicious. Sweet briny flavors. Very easy to shuck."

— Len J. (5/5)

Aunt Dotty were delish

"Went through 50 quicker than I had wished! Had about half of them raw and half chargrilled with a compound butter of fresh parsley, garlic, Parmesan. Soooo good and fresh!"

— Dave K. (5/5)

Surprised

"We are older people who grew up in eastern NC having our own beds. These oysters were small but packed a salty, earthy taste. We truly enjoyed them but would love to see larger ones with some small crabs inside."

— John E. (5/5)

!st time I hace and issue in yours products.

"For the first time in years of purchasing from you, about 8 of the 100 oysters we bought were in bad condition. I am writing to you as a heads-up, and to provide this feedback so that you can take steps to ensure it does not happen again."

— Juan P. (5/5)

Amazing!

"We served Aunt Dotty's at my son's graduation party in Cincinnati. My daughter (former ICO employee) shucked. I would have attached a photo, but by the time found my phone they were gone! As always, they were amazing!"

— Wendy R. (5/5)

Q&A